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Maguire Family History

“Justitia et fortitudo invincible sunt”

Fortitude and justice are invincible

Mag Uidhir - anglicised Maguire, McGuire, MacGuire, earlier M'Gwire &c. The root is 'odhar' the genitive of 'uidhir' which possibly means dun coloured or pale. This is the usual derivation given: (Woulfe [1923] MacLysaght [1985] et. al.) However, Ó Corráin and Maguire ('Irish Names', 1990) note the meaning of the first name Odar/Odhar as meaning either 'dark-sallow, grey-brown' or possibly, and quite differently, the early name for an otter, used as a first name.

In the 1850s Maguire was the spelling by far the most common in Fermanagh (also with the highest number), Monaghan and Down, and outnumbered McGuire by almost 3/1 in Cavan (2nd highest number), and 2/1 in Tyrone, Leitrim and Louth, though roughly equal in Donegal, Mayo and Roscommon.

The name Mac Uidhir is that of a powerful and influential sept of Fermanagh. They appear in the Annals very early and continue to occupy the 'headlines' of Irish history into modern times. The first mention is in the Annals of the Four Masters for 956: 'Tanaidhe Mac Uidhir, successor of Comhghall, was killed by foreigners'; the foreigners, or Gaill in the original Irish, probably referred to Vikings.

The Maguires dominated the affairs of Fermanagh, with strongholds all over the county, until the intervention of the Elizabethans, under Lord Deputy FitzWilliam, in the late 16th century. They were provoked into open rebellion in 1592/93, and themselves invaded Connacht, in response, under their chief Cuconnacht Maguire. There, in 1593, the Maguire led his army into open conflict with the English 'conquistadores' under Sir Richard Bingham. During the repression that ensued, the English forces were supplemented by those of the O Neill, Earl of Tyrone, who reluctantly sided with the English, his own representatives said, through fear (O'Donovan, 'The Maguires of Fermanagh', 1861). The Maguires were defeated near Belleek, and a 'puppet' Maguire, Conor Oge Maguire, known as 'the English Maguire', admittedly the senior claimant, was installed as chief. The son of Cuconnacht, Hugh Maguire, known as 'the Irish Maguire' was left out in the cold!

Conor Oge, anglicisé Cornelius Rufus, was knighted by Sir John Perrott in 1585, and 6000+ acres of his lands in Fermanagh were re-granted to him. The Barons Enniskillen came from this line, although they too fell foul of the English Government, as Conor Maguire, Baron of Enniskillen at the time of the Rebellion of 1641, who was executed at Whitehall in London in 1645 for his participation in a plot to seize Dublin Castle, and of course to recover his ancient estates. The Maguires played a great part in the 1641 Rebellion, and their names crop up frequently in the 'Depositions' (witness statements) in 1653.

The sept were harshly treated during the Cromwellian Expugnatio of Ireland in the 1650s, and again in the Williamite incursions in the early 1690s. The contemporary Maguire, Baron of Enniskillen, led a regiment of infantry in King James army at the Battle of the Boyne. The subsequent defeat of the Jacobite forces obliged many of its officers and men, including many Maguires, to go into exile in France, where they served in the Brigade Irlandaise. The sept occupies an honourable place among Ireland's 'Wild Geese'.

Listed as a 'Principal Irish Name' in Petty's 1659 'Census' of Ireland (incomplete) are the following examples:FermanaghClownish & c. parishes, MacGuire, 50 families (all figures following indicate families or households); Bohue Rossory parish & c. McGuire & Maguire, 26; Aghaharcher &c. McGuire & Maguire, 46; Dumully &c. McGuire, 12, and Mguire, 41; Templecdarne & c. McGuire, 8, and Maguire, 34. Patt McGuire, Conner Maguire & John Maguire are listed as 'tituladoes' and 'gentlemen' in the county, in Drumully and Derrybruske parishes.Cavan and Tyrone are missing from the 'Census'.Down or Monaghan, none found.LeitrimBaronies Leitrim, Mohill, Carrigalane, McGwyre, 18; Dromagheire & Rosclogher, McGwyre, 9.Louth has a number of McGroyre, but these are likely a variant of McGrory (Mac Ruaidhrí), also found in the same barony.Donegal, none found.Mayo is missing from the Census.Roscommon, none found.

The 1890 birth registration figures (R.E. Matheson, 'Special Report on Surnames...', 1894, 1909) show most Maguire births in Fermangh, Dublin, Cavan and Donegal, and most McGuire births in Roscommon and Mayo. Examples of the name occurred in many parts of Ireland, however. There were 248 Maguires and 74 McGuires in all. Maguire was the most numerous surname in Fermanagh in 1890, and the 39th in all Ireland.

Famous Maguires/McGuires

Apart from the illustrious examples mentioned in the text, family members have peppered the ranks of the Irish Alumnii. Among these:

George Maguire (1796-1882) born in Omagh, Tyrone. He was the first Democrat to be elected Mayor of St Louis, Missouri, in 1842.

Tom Maguire (1892-1993) leader of the south Mayo Flying Column of the I.R.A. during the War of Independence in 1921. He opposed the Treaty with Britain, and was a member of the Anti-Treaty Executive of the I.R.A. during the Civil War of 1922. He was captured, imprisoned and comdemned to death by the Free State forces. Maguire was spared, possibly because of his prominent status; however, his younger brother, Sean, was executed by them at the age of 17.

Kathryn McGuire (1904-1976) born in Illinois, star of the silent screen, acting as 'Betsy O'Brien' in 'The Navigator' (1924). She was also a talented dancer. A sultry looker!

Dorothy Hackett McGuire (1916-2001) born in Nebraska, an actress of considerable talent, receiving an Academy Award Nomination for Best Actress in 1947, for her part in 'Gentleman's Agreement'. She acted in many films, including 'The Enchanted Cottage', 'Three Coins in the Fountain', 'Swiss Family Robinson' and 'The Greatest Story Ever Told'. She was brilliant in her first film role as Claudia, a scheming child-bride.

Brian McGuire (1945-1977) born in Melbourne, Australia; Formula 1 racing driver who never fulfilled his potential, his life cut short by an accident driving his own car, the McGuire BM1, in a practice run at Brands Hatch.